St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-04-21
CHAT DESERVING CASE"
By A. E. WSnship in Journal Of Education.

BIZ A. e. FInship ia Journal of Education.
April opened with an unexpected
/ breath of spring air, and a group OF
BOYS loitered upon the sidewalk in an
ticipation of the approaching "marble
DAYS" (which is 979 Z" | asked OF
them, as | stood before one of the Chi
cago tenement-house blocks, far re-
moved from the business centre.
"'Pends upon what you want, gro
ceries or folks" said one of the lads.
81 want to find a lady who lives
there"
will take you to OF, 979, and 98I, ovel
Some of us fellows might know 'um."
"Miss Amsden."
"Oh, no! we know her." shouted al
the boys in chorus, with an Interest
that lady's name rarely awakens in
to the top story, and then go way back
far as you can go, and she lives there. }
| did so, and knocked at u number
less door at the end of long, narrow
hallway. AS the door opened l said
"Miss D., of New York, asked me
to call when | was in the city,"
| before me SCOOu T0HafkdOly at
tractive lady of eighty years, with an
interesting face, expressive eye, al
most melOdiOus voice ; with reasonable
vigOr indicated in every movement
one who would easily pass for seventy
at first sight. A lady of gentle man
ners, whose language would do credit
to any teacher of modern days; a
woman worth ones while to meet, il
for no other reason than the silent in
fuence upon his life and thought. Not
in the least annoyed by the appearance
of stranger, she said, "Miss D. is
remarkable woman. She is a good
friend to me !; am glad to see you for
her sake. Be seated by the window
and she took her knitting work and
seated herself, and piled the needles.
l was more disconnected than she
was. 1t was not easy to proceed to
business, so while | was saying some
commonplace things about the wealth
er and Chicago, | took an inventory of
the two small rooms, of no great value
! to the owner, which she rents for dol
| lar-and half Il week. One scant car
pet is not old, while the better carpet
is far from new, but every thing "as
neat as wax" There were two unmat
ed chairs, one of them sadly in need of
repair, while a cOverless, discarded ia
BILE of ancient order, a bureau with old
time capacity, and stove which she
said did very well for warm weather,
but had very little service in it in win
ter, completed her outfit. How it was
possible to warm two rooms under the
most favorable circumstances does not
appear, and each night the fire went
out. There was a cheap, single bed,
and she had taxed her faith and ecOnO-
my in vain to secure a mattress to put
under the much priced feather bed,
whose comfort depended entirely upon
a better foundation. She long gave up
hoping for the mattress.
My courage came at last, and l said,
GLOW are you getting alOngW
every well, | thank you, except that
l can't walk any distance. These
rooms are just large enough for me, for
l can get round in them without real
iZing that | am getting old"
"YOu will excuse me, but do you
have all that you need 7"
eyes, and more too, and it all seems
so strange. You wouldn't mind if |
should tell you all about it. | don't
know as | ought to, but you say you
are a friend of Miss DIS, and it can't do
any harm, and L have been SO excited
all the week with nobody to tell it all
to, and l will tell you, if you don't
mind. l will have to go back little.
About Il month ago lady in Vermont
sent me piece printed in teachers
paper in Boston about an old lady who
used to keep school in that state, i'll
destitute circumstances out West. She
asked if | was the original, and if |
would accept IA donation from the PEG
pie there where l had kept six differ
ent schools. | felt very queer. How
should teachers paper in Boston
know anything about me. NOOne had
ever inquired. | wrote her that it was
all true about me, and it didn't seem
as though there could be another such
case, but didn't know whether | was
the original or not; but if any friends
sent me money | should think it came
from the Lord.
"NOw, do you know, that little town
in Vermont, and they are not very
fOrehanded and there are not many left
who knew me when l was younger,
sent me twenty six dollars. Just think
of that! Why, l didn't know they
would care for me. Well, that came
last Monday and Tuesday man who
used to know me said he had heard of
a woman like me through ii teachers
paper, and sent me five dollars, and
said he would send some more. Then
Wednesday, Miss D., of New York
City, sent me ten dollars, and said |
might use it for special comforts, for
she would send some more in II few
days and l needn't worry any more
about my rent, for she would see that
it was kept paid promptly.
"Now you understand why l am
little excited, for you see didn't know
how L could live till spring, and when
spring comes [ am all right.
81 never prayed to have anything
done for mel didn't see how the
Lord could answer that prayer,-but
when the cold weather came last au-
tumn, knew my money was all gone
and l couldn't possibly earn my living,
and SO prayed Him every day to let
me die before | got in too hard place.
He hasn't let me die, but He has done
more for me than l ever thought pos
sible. It's very strange way He has
taken. If should tell you how it was
done it would he long story"
Assuring her that l had nothing in
the world to do but to hear her story,
and should be greatly interested, and
that l was entirely sure Miss D
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